Diamond Days goes back over fences for the first time this season at Plumpton today, as he takes on the Class 5 Novices' Chase over 2m4f (14:00).

Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track on X (@CRCofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

Diamond Days heads out for his first chasing assignment of the season, following a first run back of the season over the smaller obstacles last month. The plan was always to go chasing once again with Diamond Days this season, although trainer, Joe Tizzard, thought that it would be prudent to give him a slightly less daunting task in his first run for eight months. Joe did also enter Diamond Days in a hurdle race at Lingfield tomorrow, as a backup plan, in case the Plumpton race looked like it might not suit based on the ground conditions.

Diamond Days performed well last time out at Fontwell, coming home in fourth place in the nine runner field, and picking up some prize money for his Owners in the process. He did show a little rustiness over the course of the race, jumping left on occasion, but he was sat in a prominent position for much of the contest and stayed on well late on, he just couldn't keep up with those in front of him who arrived in the race having had a couple more contests under their belt already this season. 

Diamond Days had summered really well prior to that run and came back into the yard at Venn Farm raring to go when it was time to return to training. His schooling has been fantastic in the build-up to this season and his gallops work has been equally as impressive. It's just a case of putting all of this preparation into practice on the racecourse when it matters for Diamond Days to shake off his maiden tag.

Today's ground conditions are set to be good, which is unlikely to change before racing as there isn't any rain in the forecast. This could be beneficial to Diamond Days' chances, as his best run over fences to date has been on good ground, a two length defeat at Lingfield almost a year ago. 

Diamond Days' trainer, Joe Tizzard, gives us his thoughts ahead of today's race at Plumpton

"We'd entered Diamond Days in a hurdles race at Lingfield as well this week, just to give us the option of choosing between that and this chase at Plumpton and we hope we've made the right choice coming here as it looked, on paper at least, the slightly easier option.

He's schooled well at home over fences, as he always has to be fair, and this will only be his fourth start over the bigger obstacles, so I hope he can be competitive in what looks an open race, rather than there being one standout horse to be scared of. He's fit from his recent run at Fontwell, and having run well around that course in the past, he should be absolutely fine at Plumpton, as it's a similar track to Fontwell.

He has been slightly frustrating and I would have liked to see him get his nose in front before now, but I still think he's capable of doing so, so let's hope it's today! Our horses are certainly running very well, and there's no reason he wont.

The opposition

Nine rivals line up against Diamond Days in this afternoon's Novice contest, with two of those runners making their handicap debuts over fences. Kapability, who runs off top weigh today, is yet to make too much of a mark over jumps, having finished down the field in all three of his hurdles runs to date, she did however win her debut race although that was over two years ago. Onewayortother is also carrying 12 stone and similarly has only had success in a bumper. Half of today's field, including Diamond Days, are aiming to win for the first time under rules this afternoon and just three of today's opponents have won over jumps prior to today. Those runners include the bottom weight, Lunar Ocean, who scored in a chase over today's distance just two starts ago at Fontwell whereas Hiero Sport (a two time winner) and Lord Maher have only won over hurdles in their careers so far. 

Pipped At The Post – Member Exclusive

As a Coral Racing Club member, thanks to our Pipped At The Post offer, once you opt-in, you could be paid as a WINNER in CASH up to a stake of £/€10 if your horse finishes 2nd by a neck or less behind the winner in today's 13:30 at Plumpton – click here to find out more.



Exclusive Price Boost on Diamond Days

Tap below to head over to the Horse Racing Specials page and check out your exclusive price boost on Diamond Days to finish in the top three in today's 13:30 at Plumpton.



Trainer and Jockey Statistics

Joe Tizzard has continued to find himself in the Winners' Enclosure of late, with 11 winners from his last 29 runners. The red hot Dorset operation have tasted victory all over the country, including at Fontwell, Ffos Las, Worcester, Market Rasen and Newton Abbot. Brendan Powell, who rides today has been integral to the operations success, with Lily Pinchin and Dylan Johnston also pitching in with winners in the last fortnight. 

Brendan Powell is also in excellent form right now, riding nine winners from his last 32 rides (28% strike-rate), all of which have come for the in-form Tizzard team. Although he's yet to score at Plumpton in his two rides there this season, he has landed 33 winners at the Sussex course prior to today. With both Tizzard and Powell being in-form, it's not outwith the realms of possibility that the pair combine with Diamond Days to land their first winner at Plumpton of the season!

Diamond Days' Owners for the Day

As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Diamond Days' run at Plumpton this afternoon.

What's included in this Owner for the Day prize?

• Free racecourse entry
• Access to the Owners & Trainers enclosure
• Access to the Parade Ring before the race
• Meet Diamond Days and the Joe Tizzard team
• Take home a 10% share of any prize money he wins

Prize Money

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £8,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £4,304 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £1,980 | 3rd: £990 | 4th: £495 | 5th: £246

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We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 14:00 to watch Diamond Days' next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.